issue 1 migration and empire

• Push factors for internal migration

  • Overpopulation of highlands
  • Developments in highland tourism
  • Lack of opportunity
  • Harsh conditions in highlands
  • Potato famine
  • Poverty
  • Failure of fishing industries
  • Agricultural revolution
• Overpopulation of highlands


  The 18th century was a time of population growth, almost continuous from the 1770s onwards. Surplus population slowly became thought of as a liability; their need to be fed could not be ignored. Therefore encouraging or forcing tenants to move was seen as an ideal solution to the issue of overpopulation.
• Developments in highland tourism


  As more tourists wished to take part in activities such as deer stalking and grouse shooting landowners realised that their land could be more profitable without tenants and cleared them out to make way for gaming type reserve areas. This led to forced migration of the Scots against their will for the profit and gain of their landlords.
• Lack of opportunity


  Domineering landlords and lack of real opportunities in employment and education encouraged emigration from the Highlands of Scotland as many knew that they would never be able to climb the social ladder.
• Harsh conditions in highlands


  Conditions were very harsh for highland Scots – poor weather could lead to bad harvests, which in turn caused poverty and famine. Many Scots chose to move rather than suffer these harsh conditions.
• Potato famine


  The potato blight of 1847 spread to Scotland and left thousands of Highlanders close to starvation. There was a lack of alternative crops and conditions on the land were harsh. This led many Scots to migrate within Scotland or abroad to avoid starvation.
• Poverty


  Lack of employment opportunities often led to families living in abject poverty in poor housing conditions, and unable to provide for their children. This led to many people migrating internally to have a chance at a better life elsewhere.
• Failure of fishing industries


  Failure of the fishing and kelp industries led to high unemployment in the Highlands, especially after WW1. Some Scots in rural communities were entirely dependent on the fishing industries and the slump in trade devastated their communities. This led to many people migrating internally within Scotland seeking work.
• Agricultural revolution


  Increased mechanisation of farming and technological advancements meant that less workers were needed to do farming jobs. Agricultural improvement in Lowlands caused move to cities as farms were consolidated and fewer labourers were hired.
• Pull factors for internal migration

  • Increased employment opportunities
  • Easier transport links
  • Attractions of the big city
  • Temporary-Permanent migration for seasonal work
• Increased employment opportunities


  Scots suffered from a lack of good employment opportunities in the Highlands and islands. Most worked in agricultural or labourers. This was physically demanding and difficult work. This drove many to move to the lowlands in search of other work, for example factory work, which was less physically challenging.
• Easier transport links


  Improvements in transportation including railways meant that it was easier for Scots to travel. Journeys that would previously have taken weeks to complete from Highlands to Lowlands would now only take days. Journey times across the Empire to countries such as Canada and Australia were made faster by shipping advancements. This made the prospect of moving more attractive because the journeys were shorter.
• Attractions of the big city


  The Big Cities provided more employment opportunities, better wages and easier work than what many from the Highlands were used to and this was an inviting prospect. Cities also had social attractions such as dance halls, cinemas and public houses which offered a better quality of life for younger Scots looking to socialise more.
• Temporary-Permanent migration for seasonal work

  Temporary migration leading to permanent migration – some would travel for seasonal work and then return to their home towns afterwards. This led to the migration of Scots because often their experience of work in the cities would make them want to relocate there on a permanent basis.
• Push factors for emigration

  • Collapse of fishing
  • Highland clearances
  • Slum conditions
• Collapse of fishing


  Failure of fishing and kelp industries led to high unemployment in the Highlands, especially after World War One. This led to many people migrating internally within Scotland seeking work.
• Highland clearances


  This was the attempt to increase income from Highland estates by creating profitable sheep farms that need grazing land but do not need local people living there. This forcibly removed many people from the Highlands who had to seek out new lives elsewhere in Scotland.
• Slum conditions


  Many Scots were living in slum conditions, in overcrowded, diseased dirty homes where infectious diseases such as cholera and typhus were rife. Many loved the idea of moving to new lands with larger cleaner homes.
• Pull factors for emigration

  • Skills in demand abroad
  • Emigration agencies
  • Government schemes
  • Success of Scots emigrants
  • Career opportunities
  • Promises of free or cheap land
  • Gold rush in Australia
  • Transport revolution
  • Opportunities for unskilled workers
• Skills in demand abroad

  Scotland was a developed industrial economy. Many Scots were skilled and educated e.g. engineers, miners, farmers. There was high demand for these skills abroad so many left willingly, knowing that there were lots of employment opportunities abroad.
• Emigration agencies


  Emigration Agencies were actively working to attract emigrants. They would travel around towns and cities in Scotland telling Scots about opportunities for a better life. Some also offered incentives. For example New Zealand and Australian authorities offered free passages and work.
• Government schemes


  Government schemes to assist emigration e.g. Highland and Islands Emigration Society. This was seen as a good way to help lower the population of the highlands, whilst populating the British Empire overseas.
• Success of Scots emigrants

  Information about successes of Scots emigrants in Canada, Australia and New Zealand (e.g. from letters home or visits/meetings by agents, posters) was encouraging, and many were happy to move to Countries where other Scots had previously settled to establish communities where they would have support links.
• Career opportunities


  Scots suffered from a lack of good employment opportunities in the Highlands and Islands. This drove many to move to the lowlands in search of other work, for example factory work.
• Promises of free or cheap land

  Emigrants were made promises of free/cheap land abroad, especially in Canada and New Zealand. This was attractive to many farmers who had not been able to own the land they had worked on previously.
• Gold rush in Australia

  With the discovery of gold in 1851 and a booming economy, people began coming to Australia by choice. Many Scots chose to go to Australia in the hopes of making their fortunes.
• Transport revolution


  Transport revolution strongly influenced people's decisions to emigrate all over the Empire. Travel times greatly reduced by steam ship which meant people could reach places like America and Australia faster than ever before.
• Opportunities for unskilled workers

  There were better opportunities for unskilled workers e.g. domestic servants could double their wages in Canada compared to what they could earn in Scotland. This made the prospect of migrating much more attractive to emigrants seeking economic advancement.